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Dan Connolly: Pedro Alvarez Still a Fit?


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http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2016/11/30/curious-case-alvarezs-2016-affects-2017-value/

 

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By using Alvarez almost exclusively at DH, Showalter may have boosted Alvarez’s value to teams with an immediate DH vacancy and power need. Being a capable designated hitter is not an easy task, especially for a 20-something who has been a fielder for all of his career.

Alvarez, however, did a solid job in his initial shot as a DH-only. In 376 plate appearances, he hit 22 homers, drove in 49 RBIs and batted .249, 11 points higher than his career mark. It was his best average since his rookie year in 2010. His .322 on-base percentage also was his best since 2010 and he posted a career-high .504 slugging percentage.

 

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Its too soon to  project whether Pedro would be a good fit for the O's next year.

Here are some of the factors:

1) Does MLB  go to a 26 man roster?   If it does this could benefit the odds of Pedro returning.

2) Who plays in right field.   If it is a platoon then platooning three or four positions is a tough  way to go.   Left field is probably a  platoon but Kim will get a chance to show he can hit lefties in ST.  However, he will get pulled for a late inning defensive replacement.  Right field may be a platoon depending on how the O's fill the position.  Catching is a shared position - Maybe a platoon and maybe not.   DH has Mancini as a candidate and platooning Alvarez there could be complicated depending on what happens in right field.

3) Cost -  Mancini makes at least 5m less than Pedro.

I look for the O's to wait out the market on Pedro.  See what they can put together in the outfield and what MLB does with the 26 man roster before making any moves.  Think late Jan or Feb before the O's interest in Pedro rises, if he is still around.

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10 minutes ago, Babypowder said:

If they want a DH-only slugger just sign Chris Carter. He will be cheap, on a 1 year deal and he doesn't need to be platooned.

True ,,,, he is equally bad from both sides of the plate. I've seen enough of the sub .230 hitters. Plus he was second only to Davis in Ks. Together they could strike out 500 times.

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Dan Duquette to Roch Kubatko

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“We’re still looking for catching depth,” he said. “We’re looking for left-handed hitters, we’re looking for outfielders and we’re looking for pitching depth. And potential DH. We’ve got a good candidate in Trey Mancini in-house. Mancini should be able to hit. He’s got a proven hitting record in the minors. He’s got good fundamentals. I don’t know that we’re spending a lot of time on the DH position."

 

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On 11/30/2016 at 9:02 AM, sportsfan8703 said:

Pedro Alvarez is a great example of Buck getting the most/best out of guys. Pedro is strictly a DH at this point. I don't see many teams competing for a platoon DH. I think it's a good bet he stays with us for around 2/10-15. 

I think Plan A is Mancini. If he struggles against RHP, you platoon him or send him back down and slide Kim to DH with a good defensive LF. Walker and Sisco are possibilities too. 

I just don't think we can carry a LH platoon DH when we have so many guys who already have limited defense and Davis locked in at 1B. I really like what Pedro did for us in a vacuum, but he forced Trumbo and Kim to play the field. The marginal upside of Pedro just isn't worth blocking our younger players and sacrificing defense.

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I'd really like to have Pedro back if his price is reasonable.  Right now we have huge holes at RF, DH and C.  Even with the guys we had the offensive struggled in the 2nd half.  I'm worried that PA might tighten up the purse strings since we spent and attendance dropped.  

It would be so nice to get out from under one of the SP's contracts.  

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